Four months ago I received a five-page letter from a reader. I left the letter on my desk and for some reason, it slipped my mind. Recently, however, I came across it and read it again. The writer was commenting on a discussion by the Shoura Council about changing the Kingdom’s law pertaining to nationality.

He was speaking on behalf of many expatriates who have spent decades in the country but who, according to the existing law, cannot be treated as Saudis. The law does not regard them as Saudis, but they have lived in the Kingdom for so long they feel like Saudis. Having lost almost all ties with their countries of origin, they know no other home except Saudi Arabia.

My reader wrote: “These individuals have lived side by side with the people of this country. They have become partners in almost everything, sharing with Saudis their sentiments about the country. They dress like the people of the country, eat what they eat, sing the country’s national songs, support its national teams, speak the local dialect and defend the country against all who would damage it.

“Those who have been brought up and educated in this country and who have lost their fathers find themselves in a very difficult situation. Their fathers left them with no way of proving to which nationality they belong. Some have been married to Saudi women for 25 or more years and live with them in the Kingdom. Some were born to a Saudi mother and a non-Saudi father. Some trace their roots to tribes that moved into the Kingdom long ago and have been provided with Saudi residence permits issued with the knowledge and recommendation of local tribal chiefs and regional governors.”

This is all true as everyone of us knows.

Treating expatriates who have lived all their lives in the Kingdom and who are part of the social fabric the same as a new arrival is manifestly unfair. Those who have lived here for years find themselves denied many privileges enjoyed by citizens such as employment, free medical treatment and education.

The writer points out that among these expatriates, many are highly educated and qualified professionals with a great deal of valuable experience in different areas. They seldom send money outside the Kingdom since they have no one in their original countries to send the money to and so spend their money here. Granting them Saudi nationality would help in terms of jobs, reducing foreign remittances — if any — and preventing commercial cover-ups and fraud.

The writer suggested the authorities act quickly to make these individuals Saudis, beginning with those who have been here the longest. It is time this issue was dealt with and settled forever. If nationality is not possible for them, the least that should be done is granting special residence permits that entitle them to work freely, own property and receive free education and medical care.